( disclosure: I am largely against the current intellectual property struct=
ure.  I don't want to argue about it.  I want to find out what current prac=
tice is  ) =20

Definition: Prior art is all information that has been disclosed to the pub=
lic in any form about an invention before a given date. Prior art includes =
things like any patents related to your invention, any published articles a=
bout your invention, and any public demonstrations.
Patent law states "On taking up an application for examination or a patent =
in a reexamination proceeding, the examiner shall make a thorough study the=
reof and shall make a thorough investigation of the available prior art rel=
ating to the subject matter of the claimed invention." This means that prio=
r art could disqualify your application for a patent.

According to Patentcafe prior art is "the total body of knowledge, which te=
aches or otherwise relates directly to an invention. This is the primary cr=
iteria in determining the patentability of a new invention. Establishes nov=
elty and unobviousness of the art that relates to the invention in question=
.. Prior art references include documentary sources such as patents and publ=
ications from anywhere in the world, and nondocumentary sources such as thi=
ngs known or used publicly.


Is a site like http://www.halfbakery.com/ considered a source for prior art=
 ?

Until the courts get involved..... is the USPTO the final referee concernin=
g patents ?

Gus
--=20
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